While you may have heard of her, you have certainly heard of her father. André Lafaye, the greatest living painter in France today. Today being the 1850's. Satine (1818-1873) is his youngest child and only daughter, as well as the only one in the family to have inherited his artistic talent. In a world that does not appreciate, let alone recognise female talent, she has made a name for herself as a painter, especially well-known for her portraits.
Whereas her contemporaries are reluctant to acknowledge her for her professional accomplishments, they are fast to talk about her personal ones. Satine has until recently stayed unmarried and generally keeps the company of women, often seen crashing debutant balls and sweet-talking young girls who have yet to strike a match. Many a young debutante in Paris have had their portrait painted by the prolific Satine Lafaye. Unless I would like to end my days at the hands of a jealous husband, she will tell you, there is no safer way, and let it be known, I prefer to avoid the touch of men.
At the age of 32 (1850), Satine makes the acquaintance of the three years younger star composer, Joseph Lavigne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
yournocturne), and the two immediately nurture a deep understanding for each other, though no physical attraction. An odd couple, Joseph, who lives a repressed life longing for his first love and Satine, who insists on her freedom almost explosively, become all but inseparable and eventually decide, for the sake of their respective reputations and because Joseph gets diagnosed with consumption, to get married, despite how they never move in together and Satine still travels Europe without him.
Whenever she's in Paris, however, Satine cares for him loyally and stays with him until his death (1857), painting several portraits of him and filling a whole sketchbook with drawings from his final years. After his death, she inherits all his belongings and dutifully burns all correspondence he's had of an intimate character, preserving his good name and reputation.
She never remarries. Not only because she doesn't need to, but because she wishes to honour him. Her little Josephine. The only man she would ever give herself to.
Whereas her contemporaries are reluctant to acknowledge her for her professional accomplishments, they are fast to talk about her personal ones. Satine has until recently stayed unmarried and generally keeps the company of women, often seen crashing debutant balls and sweet-talking young girls who have yet to strike a match. Many a young debutante in Paris have had their portrait painted by the prolific Satine Lafaye. Unless I would like to end my days at the hands of a jealous husband, she will tell you, there is no safer way, and let it be known, I prefer to avoid the touch of men.
At the age of 32 (1850), Satine makes the acquaintance of the three years younger star composer, Joseph Lavigne (
yournocturne), and the two immediately nurture a deep understanding for each other, though no physical attraction. An odd couple, Joseph, who lives a repressed life longing for his first love and Satine, who insists on her freedom almost explosively, become all but inseparable and eventually decide, for the sake of their respective reputations and because Joseph gets diagnosed with consumption, to get married, despite how they never move in together and Satine still travels Europe without him. Whenever she's in Paris, however, Satine cares for him loyally and stays with him until his death (1857), painting several portraits of him and filling a whole sketchbook with drawings from his final years. After his death, she inherits all his belongings and dutifully burns all correspondence he's had of an intimate character, preserving his good name and reputation.
She never remarries. Not only because she doesn't need to, but because she wishes to honour him. Her little Josephine. The only man she would ever give herself to.
